When do kids stop being scared of Santa?

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When do kids stop being scared of Santa?

By lawbee11 Dec 2, 2013

We took M to see Santa this morning and I think she was one of the only kids there that wasn't in hysterics! She's only 4 months old so she was too busy staring at all the lights and ornaments to be scared. Next year she'll be 16 months and I am thinking she might be scared then.

There was a little boy ahead of us...I would guess he was around 5. And he was clinging to his mom for dear life (but not crying). It seems like a 5-year-old would be old enough to understand who Santa is and wouldn't be scared, but I guess it just depends on the kid? I could tell his dad was a little embarrassed.

Is your LO scared of Santa? How old is he/she?

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18 comments

MamaMoose
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts

Dec 2, 2013

my M is 12 months and we are going to take her next weekend. We were in the mall recently and walked by the Santa Station and she happily waved at him and cooed. We'll see if she feels the same way when we try to actually put her on his lap.
T-Mom
honeydew / 7488 posts

Dec 2, 2013

My 5 year old is deathly afraid of Santa. But she is still hoping Santa will bring her a gift! My 2 yr old is really interested in Santa, but he is also scared to get too close.
mrsjyw
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts

Dec 2, 2013

We are taking A next weekend, 1-- I'm sure he will NOT be happy sitting on Santa's lap.
LuLu Mom
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts

Dec 2, 2013

I have a 14 month old and she saw Santa in a parade this weekend and just stared at him very interested but made no faces. We will see Santa tomorrow at my work Christmas party...I have a feeling she will NOT be impressed
sorrycharlie
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts

Dec 2, 2013

ha my 14 month old loved him and smiled at him, pointed, etc. til I attempted to put her on his lap. then she started the pre-crying whine and almost flashed my boobs to the whole line. so I am in the picture too. LOL.
Torchwood
pomelo / 5607 posts

Dec 2, 2013

Definitely depends on the kid. My niece is about to turn three in Jan. Last year she was terrified, this year she darted away from her mom, ducked under the rope, and started talking to him without even waiting in line. Though she's VERY precocious/outgoing, and does pageants (don't get me started), so she isn't scared of much anymore.
pelikila
pomegranate / 3008 posts

Dec 2, 2013

Depends on the kid. My sister's two kids have always been fine though I know her youngest got through it the first time by watching her older brother. My son on the other hand, total fail both times. I'll keep taking him but I know to expect (and warn santa) the tears. The santa we go to always seems to appreciate the warning of what I am about to set in his lap since C is fine right up until I let go.
Alivoo01
wonderful olive / 19353 posts

Dec 2, 2013

DS is 4 months and I plan on taking him this weekend. He'll probably be too busy looking around (he's a curious one) to realize what's really going on. I'm worried about this next year when he'll be much older!

@Lawbee11: Was there long lines where you were? I'm afraid of this, and if I have to wait too long, it'll run into nap time for DS and he's not as cheerful then.
MamaBehr
pomegranate / 3275 posts

Dec 2, 2013

We have never gotten a crying picture with Santa. DD was more like "what are you crazy people doing" and this year, at 3.5 years old, she was excited and talked to him. DS didn't really care last year and was a little more skeptical this year, but still ok with it. However, our next door neighbor's daughter, who is going to be 2 right after Christmas, hates Santa and freaks out every time.
blackbird
wonderful grape / 20453 posts

Dec 2, 2013

My 7 month old was good for about 30 seconds (more curious than anything) and then promptly started wailing. Thankfully Santa had a good laugh over it.
lawbee11
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts

Dec 2, 2013

@Alivoo01: There were a handful of families ahead of us, so it didn't take very long. By the time we were done it had gotten a little more crowded. But this was today so I didn't expect it to be too crowded during the week. The weekend will probably be crowded. Maybe try to get there right when the mall opens?
HabesBabe
grapefruit / 4400 posts

Dec 2, 2013

C was 5 months last year and couldn't care less/was kinda smiling? But we saw Santa this past weekend as a 16 month old and she was terrified! I didn't even hand her off to him-- I just held her and she was still bawling! I think those pictures are funny, TBH
Alivoo01
wonderful olive / 19353 posts

Dec 2, 2013

@lawbee11: That's when I plan on going. We'll see how it works out. Eek! You think a Saturday or a Sunday would be better?
lawbee11
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts

Dec 2, 2013

@Alivoo01: I have no idea. Maybe Sunday? Could you go after work one day? I think the evening during the week would be less crowded than the weekend.
Alivoo01
wonderful olive / 19353 posts

Dec 2, 2013

@lawbee11: I thought about this, but normally when I pick DS up from daycare, he's about ready for a nap. Maybe I'll try and take him after his nap during the week! I'm all for not waiting in too long of a line!
AprilFool
nectarine / 2591 posts

Dec 2, 2013

My 7mth old was not a fan....... AT ALL! We have a crying photo. I didn't really expect her to be fine since she has a thing about men and especially men with facial hair. Ah well. Something to embarrass her on her 18th birthday.
SAHM0811
grapefruit / 4049 posts

Dec 2, 2013

It definitely depends on the kid.

My eldest was scared between ages 1-3 yo. So we have an infant picture (she was ok @ 10 months we were in pic with her, but crying when we left for her solo pic)... And then we did not get her to go back up to him til she was 4 yo. At 5 yo now, she's definitely ok.

Same with my 2nd. Ok as an infant at 6 months, but after the 1 year mark, no! She's 2 now and still refuses!
MsMini
grapefruit / 4056 posts

Dec 2, 2013

At 7 months, S LOVED Santa, this year, at 19 months, he wouldn't even get near him Hoping for a better reception next year.

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When do kids stop being scared of Santa?

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